Pa. House speaker to retire, says fire' is waning

In this Feb. 4, 2014 photo, Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, Rep. Sam Smith, R-Jefferson is seen before Gov. Tom Corbett delivers his budget address for the 2014-15 fiscal year to a joint session of the Pennsylvania House and Senate, in Harrisburg, Pa. Smith was expected to announce Tuesday that he will leave the chamber's top post and retire when his 14th term ends on Nov. 30, according to two people Smith told of his decision. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania House Speaker Sam Smith, who grew up answering phone calls from his father’s constituents in the small town of Punxsutawney, said Tuesday he will retire this year after steering the chamber through a wide-ranging corruption investigation, a devastating recession and a landmark transportation funding bill.

Smith simply said he has lost the fire to keep managing the 203-member House and will not run for 15th term, choosing to retire when his current term ends Nov. 30.

“The desire to fight the fights as hard as you can has waned and I have decided it was time to step aside,” the Jefferson County Republican told reporters in the Capitol.

Smith, 58, is the son of Eugene “Snuffy” Smith, a 13-term House member whose 66th District seat was handed off from father to son when the younger Smith won it in 1986. As a child, he recalled his father’s constituents coming to the house or answering the phone when they called with their concerns. As he grew up, Smith decided to succeed his father in politics rather than take over his tire shop.

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The cigar-smoking Penn State grad became a gentlemanly force in a Capitol that has become increasingly polarized during his time there. He often acted as a mediator between the governor and Legislature or among lawmakers, a “teething ring of sorts,” he said.

Smith became speaker in 2011 after nearly eight years as the House Republican floor leader, serving through a time when a corruption investigation by the state attorney general’s office resulted in jail terms for five former top House lawmakers and the recession forced lawmakers to face the most difficult budgeting decisions of their careers.

Smith is announcing his retirement just two months after sealing arguably his biggest legislative accomplishment: securing enough votes amid the House’s partisan and ideological divides to pass a massive transportation funding bill.

As speaker, Smith also sought and won passage of a proposed constitutional amendment to reduce the size of the House, arguing that it would make lawmaking easier in the often unruly chamber. The Senate has not taken up the bill.

Republicans hold a 111-92 advantage in the state House and are virtually assured to maintain control in the next election. House Majority Leader Mike Turzai, R-Allegheny, could be in line to succeed Smith as speaker.

Smith dismissed questions that he was shying away from the potential of facing a tough primary election challenge or defending an unpopular Gov. Tom Corbett or transportation bill on the campaign trail. Smith beat GOP challenger Chris Dush by 459 votes, or 7 percentage points, in the 2012 primary.